As always, being flexible is necessary on a Habitat build!

Days 3 and 4 fell on the Wesak holiday so we took R&R days. Day 3 saw us head off to a local Buddhist temple where there were young monks studying. We were the only Westerners there. After divesting ourselves of our shoes, we climbed to the top of the high hill in our bare feet over stones and rocks … note I know why I wear tender tootsies! It was very peaceful as we passed many pilgrims who were silently meditating at various spots along the way that presumably had significance for them. Reaching the top, there was a new Stupa under construction. We then made our way down again to the main temple where prayers were starting and quietly stood throughout. After prayers it seemed meditation was over and there was a communal meal about to be served.

After having lunch at our hotel, we got in the van and headed to the Katamalla Eco-Hotel (sp?) designed by architect Joseph Bawl to “bring the outdoors in or indoors out”! We entered through an entryway partly cut into the hillside into which the hotel is built. Much greenery falls off balconies … much loved by the local monkey population who fascinated our group with their babies and their antics!

Day 4 started with a trip to the Dambulla Golden Temple where there is a huge golden Sitting Buddha statue above the temple which is, of course, built into a hillside which needed to be climbed … this time, shod but up umpteen hundred stairs … to caves at the top where we were de-shod and had a guide to tour the cave temples … many dating from 150 BCE … all with multiple Buddha statues in many poses including a 90+ foot long reclining Buddha. The vibrancy of the painting of the walls and ceilings and multiple carved statues is amazing!

After a lunch at our hotel, off we went about 1.5 hours away for a 4×4 jeep safari to see the huge herd of elephants at a national park. Although smaller than African elephants it was amazing to see so many elephants in one spot. The jeeps (our group had 2) were open top, long wheel base with two benches. Everyone else was standing up but I found sitting less bruising than constantly hitting the grab bars!

Day 5 saw us back at our work sites where my partner and I finished the brick walls (these were conrete bricks just smaller than we would see as concrete block in Canada) of the addition and shoveled lots of red clay into the addition and porch area and my partner tamped it down. That completed the Habitat portion of that build … the family will have to add the roof and pour the concrete floor themselves.

Day 6 saw my partner and I move to another site where one room was being added to the house. We moved bricks … the more common red clay ones about twice the size we see in Canada … mix mortar and help the mason fill the cracks. Needless to say this is hot work in 35 Celsius heat and high humidity … I have been averaging 4-5litres of water per day.

Day 7 was the same but we fitted a window, too. Sadly, about 3 in the afternoon, my partner was handing me bricks and one broke in half and landed square on my foot. After a few minutes to catch my breath, and despite my feeling a crack, I carried on with the work until the end of the day. Once back at the hotel with shoe off, it was clear that the foot was broken. Fortunately, we have a Dr. with us as a team member who has been extremely generous with his expertise. After Alan notified the Habitat insurer … who could not find our location on her map … we (Alan, the dr,, a team member who is a Canadian after emigrating from Sri Lanka, two Habitat folks and the driver) beaded off to explore local health care …always an experience in the subcontinent. After the Xray confirmed the break, the local Dr. at the clinic remarked “broken, what to do?”. His idea was to see a surgeon the next day! After we got back, Alan, our Dr. and I huddled. Our Dr’s assessment was simply “You are not having surgery here, ARE YOU?” I can only say that I heartily agreed! Not sure if surgery is necessary but apparently the break is of a metatarsal head … the same one I broke 5 years ago which apparently did not heal well … the osteoarthritis does not help, either.

The upshot: I have spent the last two days with my foot up, iced or in a tensor bandage while the Habitat insurer assessed the situation, recommending repatriation and making flight arrangements … business class …for which they are paying … to be kinder to the foot and, in light of my age, prevent a DVT if possible. So, I leave tomorrow, Wednesday, and get in to Moncton around supper time to head to the local hospital to see “what to do?”. Sadly, the foot cannot be plastered prior to flying since it will swell in flight so it has been quite painful.

In the meantime, the build has continued… the two guys who have been digging a 6x6x10 foot deep latrine in this heat and humidity … cheerfully, I might add … finally finished yesterday and were looking to learn how to mix concrete for a floor today! Apparently the last group assigned to dig a latrine the same size took 4 guys 7 days … our guys are heroes!!

Will post this and this afternoon, if possible, will try to post a few pictures!